also podgy, "fat and short; thick, fleshy," 1824, from colloquial pudge "anything short and thick" + -y (2). Perhaps related to pudsy "plump" (1754), possibly a diminutive of nursery word pud (n.2) "hand, forepaw" (from mid-17c.). A connection with pudding (q.v.) also has been conjectured. In late 19c. it often appears on lists of English local or dialectal words; sources also mention puddy, punchy, pluggy, pudget as relatives or variants. Related: Pudginess.
